Intelligentsia Coffee Pasadena Coffeebar

very happy that this location reopened :) the interior looks amazing and very spacious. I got a regular latte with black cat espresso and everything about this simple latte was beautiful: the foam, the espresso, the temperature. definitely my new favorite place, and I've been dying to find a space to do some work or to read or to write. Very calming 😌

Nice little cafe with a great atmosphere and nice vibe for studying or having a chat. Nice selection of drinks and pastries. Could do better with more food selections though and more no sugar options.

very happy that this location reopened. cause I was waiting for their reopen! loved their vibes and atmosphere so much. but the thing is taste. their latte is totally different. so watery and thin. it was disappointed.

I loved this place and they ruined it. I went here daily and I loved their coffee. I was so excited for it to reopen that I would constantly check their IG to see what was happening. Then it opened, and a part of me died. The place is no longer warm and inviting, but rather it resembles a hospital lobby posturing at being with the trends. The espresso has lost all its life, and leaves you feeling empty and unfulfilled. Plus, it taste bad. The staff was still relatively friendly though. This place is also surrounded by better options, at least better than this new version. This place deserved better.

Great coffee. Great vibes. Great service.

kinda expensive but literally had the most incredible cortado today. to the barista with curly hair and glasses…. you’re amazing. genuinely impeccable…. the milk was a perfectly drinkable temp, espresso !!!!! just right, the FOAM??? not a single bubble… and then a little latte art friend to keep me company. beautiful place to spend $5 on a cortado and i would do it again

While wondering around the town of Pasadena, I needed a quick pick me up. I saw this coffee shop and decided to stop in for some coffee. The service was quick. The staff was friendly. The coffee was a little too sweet for me, but that's not the Batista's fault. I should have ordered something with less sugar. All in all, this is a great coffee shop. Stop on by for a quick bite to eat or a beverage.

Good coffee and nice environment. Not burnt like Starbucks and you do not take home the stink on your clothes. Really no complaints except for that one staff member who lays on the attitude heavy. It’s okay though honey – that tip jar won’t grow unless you earn it with better customer service. Other than that, I keep coming back for the taste

such a great coffee shop. pasadena is lucky to have them. they can only be found in LA and Chicago. i always prioritize a visit to intelligentsia when i'm visiting either of those places they have the best espresso drinks and very thoughtful and delicious pastry offerings. the best quality and service you could hope for

It's definitely gourmet aka high class type of coffee and feel inside is that way too which means you do pay the extra price for it Coffee is good though! Was pretty busy when I went but did get my coffee in good time despite the crowd Nice friendly barista

I'm back with a better experience! Spent a few hours on a Sunday studying and was surprised by how delicious their matcha was, how reliable their wifi was, and how nice staff were. Plenty of seating available

I got the salted maple latte, per the barista's recommendation from the seasonal drinks. It has a nice balance of sweetness, maple flavor, and a tad bit of salty. A warm, perfect drink for the fall season, but a little too pricey for a nice latte.

I love Old Pasadena area because they have so much cool restaurants and cafes. I was meeting up with my friends in the area and decided to check out Intelligentsia Coffee for a catch up session. We decided on Intelligentsia because they look like they have big seating area with lots of space and tables. The coffee shop was definitely huge with lots of people either working/studying or just hanging out. I love the tall, brick walls with cool paintings. The lighting is nice and bright, which fit well with the modern aesthetic. I tried the Crimson Limeade, which was super refreshing. It looked so pretty with the ombré crimson color. My friends tried their Matcha Latte and their Avana Latte, which they said both were really good! Overall, Intelligentsia Coffee is a good place to catch up with friends and to get your work done!

Oh, Intelligentsia... what happened? It's admittedly been a while (years) since I've come here, so I was shocked by everything that changed. The cozy atmosphere has been replaced by white walls and glaring lights. The WiFi is unacceptably slow as if they don't want people to actually do work here after over paying for the tiniest lattes in the world. The chairs already also uncomfortable. The drinks are good (chai latte with almond milk), but I can't see myself becoming a regular here again due to the harsh vibes, expensive parking, and small drink sizes.

The place is pretty spacious. Pretty nice place to do some work. The service is kind of non existent. The lady taking our order was helpful in helping us choose our drinks but they didn't even call out when our drinks were ready, they just had our drinks sitting there and we only found out it was our drinks when we walked up to the pick ip counter. When I thanked the barista for my drink and wished him a nice day, he did not even bother to look or acknowledge me LOL But I digress. The drinks themselves were not bad. I give it at 3/5. The tea seemed to be watered down. Maybe from sitting on the counter. Overall, there was nothing really that would bring me back to try something else out.

Great drinks in a big and nice setting. They have plenty of tables and also lots of interesting art pieces hung up on the walls. The drinks are very tasty and good quality, and the staff are very friendly. The washrooms are all the way in the basement with a code to access and are very clean.

Avena Latte: oat milk latte that includes flavor blend of cinnamon, vanilla, orange, and ginger. Topped with cayenne pepper. $7.25 for i think 12 oz?. Good, it works. Creamy and gently sweet. Would get again. Bright and airy ambiance.

Solid coffee shop with some decent coffee in walking distance of the pasadena convention center. The Lemon poppy seed loaf was somewhat too moist but had a good taste.

Placed a pickup order in the app for what I thought was an iced latte (see photo) but instead ended up being a 16oz hot latte. Nowhere in the app is there an option to make your latte iced, so it seems like the photo for a 16oz cup is just what it looks like: a 16oz iced drink. The staff should be trained on how the app works, as well - when I asked how to order a drink iced in the app for future reference, the person I spoke to didn't know. Highly inconvenient.

They charge you an extra fee to dine in. Just a PSA so people know. Cashier didn't even tell me, I had to ask why the price was more than normal.. kinda put me in an awkward position like do I still want to dine in, is this ambiance fee worth the money? Anyways, awesome place and awesome coffee. Just sucks I guess this is where the industry is headed :(

Not the most friendly here but the coffee is good and I got lucky by not having to wait long for my order. Enjoyed a delicious Vanilla Iced Latte for National Coffee Day. Didn't hang out much or order anything besides by son's yogurt parfait so I can't speak on anything. I did love the vibe of the cafe and saw several people using the space to work. Would consider coming back.

As I continue to find a study spot, I decided to pay Intelligentsia Coffee a visit. At around 9:30 am, it wasn't too busy yet. I was able to order my drink and get it in a few minutes. I did ask the staff for recommendations on something that wasn't sweet and decided to get the Black Cat Fizz. As described, it wasn't sweet. It definitely had a fizz and a hint of range. Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much due to a lingering aftertaste. There was a lot of seating available from the window to the wall seatings all the way to the back. There were outlets available. There is free WiFi without a password needed. However, the signal was pretty weak, so keep that in mind if you rely on it. For noise level, the music wan't too loud. However, as time passed, there was definitely more people coming through, so noise level rose. In case you need the bathroom, this store has a shared one with other stores. This is located in the bottom level, which can be reached by stairs or elevator. It does require a code, so ask the staff before heading down. For parking, since I went early, there were plenty of spots available in the nearby parking structure. It believe it was $1 for 90 minutes.

Been my fav coffee shop places to go for years! You live in Pasadena , im sure you have been here! If you are a tourist, then add it to your list! You drink good coffee and see interesting people there!

Intelligentsia Coffee is in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, within walking distance from the main Fair Oaks and Colorado intersection. I was walking around the area early in the morning, and the clean, sleek appearance that is in full view through the full-glass storefront drew me back to this place during my return route. As far as food, the options are minimal, but the Kouigan Amann was amazing. Flaky, buttery, softly sweet. It was perfect! I'm sure the other pastries are delicious too. Something I love about this place is that it offers pistachio milk which is pretty rare. I ordered a hot chai latte with pistachio milk and it tasted great! A tad too sweet although not overbearing (for me), the spiciness was what I found most delicious about the drink. The coffee shop is modern, spacious, and clean with plentiful seating. The baristas were quick and friendly. Nice place and great for an early morning coffee shop stop!

I get coffee from here almost everyday. The coffee tastes really good no matter what drink I get and the baristas are very friendly and helpful. A minuscule plus is that the music never disappoints. Definitely recommend and will continue to come back for my morning or afternoon coffee (:

It's sad to see the place I enjoyed and fond of became mediocre place. It's been a while since I visited here last time, and it now serving really stale, tasteless coffee. The Ethiopian coffee (natural) was so watery and acidic without citric taste. It was bad experience. Besides the barista was not kind and doesn't seem to enjoy serving coffee. It was not like this before. It is just very sad to see this happening.

Smooth coffee but on the lighter side. Cayenne pepper over powers the coffee, feels like it is two separate entities. Fan of the oat milk cause not too strong that it doesn't overpowers the latte. Overall reminds me of a horchata latte. Would drink again but wouldn't go out of my way to get it.

I've been to this Intelligentsia twice in the last few weeks, enjoying delicious coffee, friendly service, and a relaxed vibe both times. During one visit I had a cortado. For milk drinks they use their Black Cat blend and it was a sweet well-rounded cup of coffee. The cinnamon roll I ordered was solid too: flaky and just a bit sweet, not covered with cloyingly sweet icing. On another visit I ordered an espresso and the barista explained that they will pull a shot from any of their single origins or espresso blends. I chose a Guatemalan and it was bright and citrusy. As a bonus, they pulled the shot with a manual Flair espresso press, which is always cool to see. The baristas working have been friendly and helpful. And there has been enough space to sit with a friend and enjoy a conversation. I've been there between 8am-10am, I imagine it does get quite a bit busier throughout the day. But if you get there a little early you'll be rewarded with good coffee and some relative calm to start the day.

My experience was very pleasant- my friend and I wanted to study together and catch up as well. The first thing I noticed was that there were many other people studying as well, but the music was somewhat on the louder side. With nice noise cancelling headphones, though, it is a great place to get work done! The barista was very kind! The drinks were delicious, we had heard that the matcha was good quality so we tried the hot matcha latte and the matcha lemonade on their specialty menu. I noticed that they were sifting their matcha and whisking it, making sure to take time with the process which was lovely to see. I have tried extremely high quality matcha and while this was not the same, it was still very high quality and not too bitter or sweet. I got very nice grassy tones that didn't taste overpowering. Definitely ask for sweetener if you don't like a strong grassy flavor.

Founded in Chicago in 1995 by Doug & Emily Zell with the intent of serving thoughtfully sourced, freshly roasted, & proudly poured coffee Intelligentsia has since expanded to Austin, Boston, L.A. & New York. I stopped by this location for a pick me up before my morning workout. George greeted me with a smile and a welcoming demeanor. After browsing the menu, the Dark Cherry Grenadine Latte sounded intriguing. Made from a small batch recipe using real pomegranate and dark cherries, it was a described as a touch of sweet and a little tart. I was sold. George asked if I wanted my beverage in a ceramic mug or to go. I asked for it to go. While I waited I surveyed my surroundings. The place is spacious. The exposed brick wall reminded me of NOLA and the industrial modern décor emits a hip contemporary vibe. I watched George as he made my drink and noticed he prepared it with care and proudly presented his finished creation. It was lovely. As I went to position my cup for a photo op I accidently spilled some on the counter. I went to get some napkins to clean it up and George said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." George is awesome and deserves a 10+ for customer service. Based on the description I wasn't sure what to expect. I took my first sip, and it was heavenly. Rich, bold, light on the sweetness, and perfectly creamy. The hint of cherry was a pleasant surprise. It made me wish that I had gotten the Dark Cherry Grenadine Mocha instead. The combo of chocolate and cherry would have been even yummier! The Latte is made with oat milk. Even though I prefer almond milk I'm learning that oat milk produces a creamier foam. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back and trying the Mocha version. When I return, I hope George is there. *Free Wi-Fi *Metered street parking or surrounding lots.

I love this place. The drinks are unmatched. Their specialty coffees are amazing. The avena latte is the best thing on the menu and I've had it a dozen times. Today I got the iced tea of the day which was a hibiscus drink. Delicious. Unfortunately my order came with a side of FU. The woman at the register was absolutely unable to muster the energy to be pleasant. I don't expect fireworks and confetti when I walk in but a bit of friendliness is a minimum. The service really creates the atmosphere for the purchase and I do t feel like coming back if I encounter the same person out front next time.

I come here every time I'm in Southrrn California. They have the most delicious pastries, always something different each time I visit. The service is pleasant and helpful. The ambiance is chill and you can sit for as long as you like and watch the people go by on Colorado Blvd. I love it here.

Wow!! Intelligentsia completely changed O_O! I kind of miss the older look from before, but I think I'm in the minority for that preference. It's very bright inside and looks modern Drinks: -Avena Latte: sweet and good, I kind of wanted it to be a bit more coffee tasting as I'm used to with Intelligentsia but I realize I usually got cold brew or things like that. I don't think I'm a cayenne on top of the avena drink lover and will pass on that next time. -Espresso beans: it could be a me thing but the beans are a little harsh. I prefer darker coffee though but my partner was a little not taken by them. Ambiance: -Feels like an old pasadena coffee spot where you have people working solo, friends/couples meeting, a lot of ins and outs of people and a good mix. Overall: -It's a great spot, I don't think I'll get beans from there again for a bit. And if I do go back, I'd try a different drink!

I tried this place for the first time. They were quick, nice and friendly. I ordered the ice chai tea which was delicious. I will definitely be going again to try something else.

Perfectly blended, smooth latte. And my wife's vanilla latte was the essence of purity... Tasted like real vanilla latte rather than syrup. So good!

It's ok coffee shop but pricy. Coffee was not really good The Ambiance is nice Service is ok

Just typical Intelligentsia coffee - luv it! I gotta have my oat cap and their machines make the foam so fluffy and the roast is that nice medium body. Limited parking in front but you can also park across the street and not pay until 11am. Very small outdoor seating three tables only. Highly recommended if you need an awesome caffeine fix! Came back the next day for Aveno drink and it was amazing!

This place has gone down hill in my opinion. It used to be great (before their remodel). They started using instant espresso a while back, which I didn't like, but once again went back properly to machines. Unfortunately the latte was weak and unrefined. I don't know if it was the technique of the barista, but I would much rather use their beans and make it at my home. Won't be going back

Jesus fing Christ it's 9:36 I paid 7.67 for a cup of coffee and I'm waiting 10 minutes for it. What the hell happened to the world? It's just coffee, have a carafe ready. I just don't understand it. The woman working was very nice and acted like it was the end of the world that my first choice wasn't available. It's just coffee. INSANE I can't even spell intelligentsia

I've been coming to this location for a good part of a decade or longer, back when they had the black industrial high ceilings which I kind of liked more. I feel like it gave them character and felt like they belonged in Old Town Pasadena. They've semi-recently remodeled with a white clean look with some modern lighting which looks pretty nice. Definitely more welcoming, just not as unique. Anyway, great coffee 90% of the time. Pretty consistent, but every once in a while I get a cup that makes me question the quality/craftsmanship. Not really sure what it is, to be honest. Regardless, one of the best coffee spots to stop by on a whim while shopping. They're also connected in the back to the mini food hall next door.

This place used to be the best coffee in all of Pasadena. I was running a small restaurant walking distance from here so I became a regular. Everything was always excellent. Things have really changed. This store has been "renovated" to look like an IKEA/hospital cafeteria. Used to be very welcoming and old timey looking with exposed brick that really felt like it belonged on old town Pasadena. And where did the nice espresso machines go? It looks like a laboratory now. There used to be a bar area too that served beer and an area that had pew looking sitting to congregate. Not anymore. Now there's a weird box in the middle with doors and signage that say employees only. The lattes used to be sooooo good. Not anymore. Customer service was great too. Now, some android looking kid with a red shirt was "helping" me. Zero personality. I will never go back.

I'm so glad my brother recommended this spot between clients and a pilates class. I got a speciality coffee and a cinnamon croissant. This was a great pick me up before a workout and I definitely enjoyed working here. It's a great environment to work in and enjoy coffee. The service was awesome and they helped me pick my coffee.

I recently went in to order an espresso shot. What I got was shocking. So my $7 espresso shot came in a paper cup and had absolutely no crèma on top. So I brought it up to the barista's attention asking why it didn't have a crèma. His response; we freeze pre-brewed espresso and reactivate with hot water but for a little extra we can pull a fresh brew. That's a the last time I'm going there for coffee. You charge $7 for an espresso, and you serve pre-brewed coffee? Your cashier calls it an expresso, and your barista doesn't know how to pull a decent shot. This isn't how you made your name.

I expect a certain level of quality when I think of intelly - but this was beyond disappointing. For one the service was very lacking. But the photo really says it all- look at the foam on the cappuccino. Super sad looking and the taste was also really mediocre. No microfoam. I assume their barista was newer but I think their standards must be much lower than they used to be! Wouldn't be back sadly, I used to really enjoy it here.

I did not get the food here, but the coffee is excellent, we got a latte and fresh squeeze orange juice. The service was excellent, and our server was friendly and made sure our drinks were accurate. The ambience is relaxed and on the quiet side.

I don't normally like to rate lower star reviews, but this place inconvenienced me quite a bit during the recent visit. This place is not a must visit coffee shop in Pasadena, CA. I tried their house brew off the 'Kenya,' brew. For some reason when I added a type of sugar they provided: they provided 2 types, and I took pics of them, made the coffee taste way off. I had to ask the barista for another batch: also the creamer I added made the original batch lukewarm right away. I needed to borrow restroom here so decided to try them out. What happened was while In the restroom, the lights Blacked Out and I had to use my flashlight off my iPhone. This was a very inconvenient coffee shop because I had to also leave my umbrella out front. Luckily I was already almost done in the restroom, and the lights turned back on. You had to take the elevator down the basement for restroom usage. You lost me. This was way too inconvenient an experience.

Parking: There's a lot nearby that's $1 for 90 min! Drinks: Had the black cat blended latte - I'm still getting into coffee and tbh the milk was quite strong but the coffee flavor had a lot of texture to it. I wish it was a little sweeter (but that's just me) Seating is quite spacious and aesthetic but the WiFi was a little spotty for me. I think this area in general is very nice and the price was reasonable. Overall not the most convenient space for a study cafe but a solid choice for a solid cup of coffee!

Beautiful space, great staff, delicious drink, however, I couldn't help but notice that there's visible dust everywhere! All the decor and light fixtures need a good swiffering, otherwise it would have been 5 stars for me :)

Great roasts. Came here for a coffee and this place doesn't disappoint. Not your typical Starbucks style. And that's a good thing!

Love coming here for a good cup of coffee! The ambiance is great and such a good spot to study. Lots of tables to sit at. Service is always great. Parking is difficult because it's Pasadena but still worth it.

Low selection of coffee choices , place is very cozy and service is very nice , they have several pastries that are really good , Shame that not have more selections

Iced latte was good! The interior had space for studying which was nice and the service was pretty good too. Overall enjoyed this visit.

Food is alright and tasted premade, coffee is alright, service is awful. My keurig makes better coffee. The cashier took our order, assumed it was Togo, didn't ask for our name, left our order on the counter, did not know who it belonged to and we had to go and ask where was our food and he just pointed at the counter. He did not offer a smile and he obviously looked annoyed.

#83 in my Coffeeshop Chronicles. I've been hearing about Intelligenstia for years but never made my way over to one of their coffeeshops until now. I have to say, I finally see what all the hype is about. Known for sourcing quality coffee from award-winning direct trade partners and for emphasizing the global coffee culture in their various blends, Intelligentsia has grown exponentially into a high end coffee brand and powerhouse across the country. And for good reason. I love their coffees and the attention to detail they put into crafting each drink. My go-to is their signature Avena latte, which is made with their famous Black Cat espresso blend, oat milk, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, and an optional sprinkle of cayenne pepper on top. The coffee is rich but smooth, and has such bold flavors - they clearly know what they're doing in taking coffee to the next level! This Pasadena Intelligentsia location reopened a few month ago after remodeling the interior. I'm not sure what the shop looked like before but now it has a bright modern look with plentiful seating inside. It's the perfect spot for studying/ working. All in all, the Intelligentsia Pasadena location has fast become one of my favorite coffeeshop finds :)

Earlier this year Intelligentsia Coffee at this location went through renovation and has completely remodeled the interior. Now it has rebrand itself as The Illumination Bar by Intelligentsia Coffee. The Instant Bar offers espresso drinks made with freeze-fried Black Cat espresso. [Parking]: The public parking structure at W. Green St & Fair Oak Ave (just a block away from the coffee shop) no longer offers free 90-minute parking - now the parking rate is $1 for 2-hour. [Amenity]: You will need to ask cashier for a code in order to access restrooms on the basement floor. There's a backdoor entrance to the next-door vendors such as The Pie Hole, Bearology, and Wanderlust Creamery. A lot of customers simply brought their own mugs & the interior décor was sleek and modern. *** Latte ($5.75): One of the more milkier lattes I have had. Overall the drink was pretty solid. *** Everything is slightly inconvenient from parking to restrooms, but this is still one of the ideal spots to hang out due to locating in the heart of Old Town Pasadena.

The coffee is terrible now and they killed the soul of the coffee shop It used to be beautiful inside and they served really good coffee I used to drive out of the way just to be able to go to intelligence and enjoy my cup of coffee, macchiato, espresso, or latte. Now it looks like you're walking into a hospital. And there espresso is a powdered mix into hot water Bring back the original intelligence this place is garbage

Stopped by and grabbed an avena latte and it was delicious! We opted for one shot of espresso instead of two and really enjoyed it. Coffee shop was busy with people ordering and studying / enjoying coffee. Had a good selection of coffee w non diary options on the menu!